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Newbie UQ Questions.

I am new to hanging and have fallen in love with it. I have been fine in my hammock at 50* with just a thermarest LE and mild weather bag. I do more camping/hiking in fall/winter. I will be in the need for a cold weather 10*-30* UQ. I am a little at the prices of these things. With so many choices I am overwhelmed. I would like full length, and maximum of $200. Help me narrow it down. Thanks

I really like the look of the KAQ Patomic. It says specifically designed for Hennessey Hammock, whitch is what I have. Does this quilt have bottom entry? I have had 2QZQ zipper mod and no longer use bottom.

I am also experiencing sticker shock at the price of underquilts. Is there nothing in the sub-$100 price range??

Depends on the weight you want to carry, your DIY skill level, and what temperatures you want the quilt to be good for. A PLUQ is on the heavy side (22 oz+), but it's under $50 for all of the materials and will keep most folks warm down into the high 40s or low 50s.

The no-sew version doesn't require sewing skills, just shock cord, an heat source, a pin, a fid, and some patience. I've successfully used one of these down to 41 F with no supplemental insulation (note: I'm a warm sleeper; most folks would probably be good to about 45-50 F).

The sewn up version requires a little more gear-making skill (though still not much) and can be warmer--especially if you add another layer of insulation to it. I've successfully used one of these down to 25 F with no additional bottom insulation (aside from the layer of InsulBright I added to the PLUQ) and 24 F with the addition of a torso-sized piece of CCF.

Anyway, the total price on my PLUQ (not counting the sewing machine I bought for gear making; if you already have one, this'll be an easy project) came in at about $40. Not bad, considering...